2011 and Beyond

The New Year is upon us once again. Last year I set a goal of reading 30 books.
Well, I didn't make it.

For those who have been around here a while, you know that we lost one of my younger brother's last January. I think I woke up sometime around April; I mean really woke up. I had been here posting, but there was not much thinking going on.
With that lovely bit of a beginning to 2010, I still read 22 books! Not bad if I do say so myself!

I think the one that touched me most--well two actually were "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom, and "Night" by Elie Wiesel.
Corrie Ten Boom and her sister will stay with me always, as shining examples of Christlike Love; of what it can mean to truly follow the Savior and trust in Him; Elie Wiesel will also stay with me, but for an entirely different reason; he taught me what it means to my life if I were to ever give up hope; if I were to ever stop trusting God. It matters not that we worship a different God; God has a firm place in my life, my mind and my heart, through Mr. Wiesel's experience, I know I don't want to alter that.

My favorite history this year was "The Real George Washington" by Jay Parry. Wow! I learned so much about my favorite Founding Father, my love for him grew by leaps and bounds.
I also have high praise for "In Praise of Prejudice" by Theodore Dalrymple. This book is about the positive aspects of prejudice, and how we are born to BE prejudice; how there is obviously bad prejudice, but less obviously there is good prejudice, and how to embrace that. If you choose to read it, and I highly recommend that you do, have a dictionary handy!
Two that I had the most fun reading were "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis.

All in all, I think I did pretty good. Glenn Beck takes top honors as a double contributor, and I found I read more fiction this year than I thought I would, or had intended to for that matter.

I will once again set a goal of 30 books; care to join me?

In the realm of politics, I'm not hopeful; I know we had an excellent election result, and things look good, but pardon me if I don't hold my breath. The Tea Party had amazing success in determining the outcome, and I am grateful, excited even for the possibilities; yet I'm concerned, maybe overly so, that those who we elected to put us back on track, may fall victim to the evil that is Washington D.C.

There are bright lights, in some very strong conservatives, but we have some on the left calling the plan to read the Constitution in Congress a "gimmick"! Of all things! I was flabbergasted. The mentality of the Progressive Left is frightening at the very least.
This brings up a whole First Amendment issue that I'm hoping to talk about in the next little while.

So, I hope your 2010 was better than mine, I'm still healing, but my faith is strong; stronger even than before the accident; I know my Savior lives; I know that whatever happens, the Lord is on my side. I will continue to strive to be on His.

Happy New Year!